Tuesdays with Cory: MAAC championship edition

Former Siena men’s basketball player Cory Magee, who was forced to end his career because of a head injury, is serving as a student assistant coach this season. Throughout, he’ll offer a weekly blog entry for the Times Union. We call it, “Tuesdays with Cory.”

What’s that word again? Begins with an “e” … Help me out here. I’m spent right now and am injecting caffeine into my body to talk to you people today.

EUPHORIA. That’s it. I suppose you could pick a baker’s dozen of words that you could use this morning, but I picked the big cute one.

First things first: What a game! Second things second: What a crowd! Third things next: What a run this has been for us! Please excuse me if I’m all over the place, but it’s hard to say where to start or where to go, so I’m just going to go.

Anyone who has followed us this year or any of the past four years knew a comeback was coming after Fairfield drilled us in the first half. We played out of character for the first 20 minutes of the game, which was exactly what we aimed not to do, and then we do what we do best in the second half – play in character.

Before the game I figured we had a lot going in our favor, and the one thing that stuck out in my mind was experience. We have been there before, and they had not. Well, Fairfield didn’t seem to care that it hadn’t been there before. Their young guards played nothing like young guards all night long. I know this is a Siena blog, but credit has to be given to Fairfield. Talk about a program that does things THE right way, led by a coach who does things the right way; but in the end everyone in the building knew this wasn’t the way we were going out.

Throughout the game I even got out of character. I usually stay pretty even-keeled, but it was tough on this Monday night. Over the past year I’ve worked on turning the page in my book and moving onto other things. The “Big Three” has done a lot for Siena basketball and established themselves as the greatest ever to come through this program. From my perspective, those guys did me a favor. I don’t know how I would have reacted had we lost, but I don’t have to think about that because I have friends who like to step up in big ways. It’s nice to have friends who look out for you, even when they don’t even know there doing it.

Throughout this season, I’ve had a storm brewing inside that I have kept inside. It’s in regards to my long time buddy, Edwin Ubiles. It’s hard to stay away from Internet shenanigans regarding our team. However, since I’m part of the blog world now, I now find myself stumbling upon these discussions. Edwin always seems to be a hot topic. Edwin also seems to be a hot topic for some loudmouth “fans” who feel the need to scream inappropiate things at him during the game. (For the record, I was planning on talking about this win or loss.) Well here’s a message to the people who feel the need to question someone’s heart and character. First things first: If you want to be a coach, quit your day job and focus on coaching. Second on my list is if you want to question a man’s heart or character, don’t do it behind a computer screen or from the stands. Sorry for spouting off and getting all riled up on such a great day. It just bothers me when people take things further than they need to be taken when they don’t even know a person or what they have been through.

Well so far I’ve been all over the place with this blog, and I’m going to continue that trend. Ryan Rossiter is another friend. He probably doesn’t even remember it, but last night amidst the celebration he came up to me and thanked me for just being me. Ryan said he emulates me with his hustle and reckless abandon on the court. I’m honored by what he said and proud that I’ve stood by him as he has grown into the best center this program ever has seen. Ryan may have claimed to emulate my hustle and heart but one thing is for sure – the kid has talent to boot.

Word counts are the pits and I’m getting there, yet I feel like I haven’t gotten to a quarter of everything I could talk about today. Well guess what people? I will be doing an hour by hour blog for the next week of every emotion we are feeling as a team.

Just kidding. I wouldn’t put you through that.

Next up is Selection Sunday, and we will find out who we are playing and where we are playing. The NCAA Tournament is all about who you match up well with. That being said, I like our chances against anyone. The location is what really matters. I’d like somewhere warm. Rossiter and Downey need a tan, and Lord knows this guy could use one as well.

Thanks for your support last night; you helped last night be what it was.
Tuesday’s suggestion: Check out Selection Sunday.

18 Responses

and thanks to you as well Cory, you were a BIG part of the success of this team ON and OFF the court during your years at Siena. Your contributions go way beyond points, rebounds & other stats, it was your heart, devotion and attitude that never wavered. Enjoy this, it’s your time as well.

Well said Cory! At the end of THE game, my 41 year old son ran down to speak to an older gentleman who had been extremely negative about Eddy for the prior two games. My son had sat in front of this jerk and had to listen to the stuff and hold his temper. Last night right after the game ended he taps the guy on the shoulder who then turns as my son says, “So what do you think of our boy Eddy tonight?” The guy just sat there dumbstruck – he did have a head start toward dumbness already!

Cory,
First of all, congratulations to the entire Siena team and coaching staff! That was a great game! My voice is absolutely gone from all the cheering!
Kudos! re: your remarks about Edwin Ubiles. Believe it or not, most of these same nutjobs were also being unreasonably critical of Kenny Hasbrouck last year. Then he silenced them all against Niagara. It was great to see Ubiles do the exact same thing last night against Fairfield!!! So I guess Edwin is in some GREAT company! I have posted on the TU college sports blog that us fans will really miss the class of 2010 next year. It’s been a great ride these last 4 years.
Good luck in the ncaa tournament!

Well said Cory. What a treat last night was. I’ve been going to games with my dad for as long as I can remember.Been in a number of gyms. Been to a number of arenas including The Garden for our NIT appearances. Over the years I’ve seen so many young men come and go. Last night you played like you wanted it. You played with heart and the determination of true champions. I was proud to have been there and roared just like everyone else. Way to go guys!

Cory – hope to see you continue on the sidelines in some capacity in the future…really enjoy reading your posts and best of luck to you and the Saints in the NCAA’s as well as the future. It’s been a joy to watch how much you all play with class…call Fran whatever you want but he’d never let anyone of his players get away with some of the stuff other teams have pulled this year.

Side note: Not sure if anyone watched the replay on ESPN2 last night but he was none to pleased with the 360 dunk from Ubiles…but I say the he double hockey sticks with that…what a great dunk and a statement Edwin made last night. GO SAINTS!

Cory, congrats… when Siena falls behind three games in a row like that, is it really so out of character?

Hopefully they will get that straighted out for the NCAA’s…

Being so close to the team, can you put a handle on what happened so differently in the tourney versus the regular season. Is that the result of scouting? Get on Siena early is the only way to have a good shot at them… it was shocking to me to see that happen, not one, but three times in a row?

Cory, you’re a good friend to defend Edwin here. Remember this about a lot of the people who have these opinions, they don’t even hold themselves to the standards in their own lives that they do Edwin. Pathetic people who expect things handed to them by the players on their teams with no regard for the effort and work put in. It’s easy to bash from behind a computer screen or from a seat far away. These people have the worst end of it, they have to wake up everyday and look at themselves in the mirror. They don’t like what they see.

I hope you are able to take some of the good comments made about your teammates and yourself and feel good about them. This is a special time in Loudonville and you are a part of it. You probably really won’t appreciate it fully until you are long gone from Siena. 10-15 years from now you’ll be introduced to someone and they’ll say “were you the Cory Magee that played for Siena that went to the NCAA’s?”

Cory,
Congratulations to you and the entire team. As long as we are on the subject of someone who has heart, give yourself a little credit. Many people would have folded up their tents and gave up after not being able to play anymore. You turned a negative into a positive and that speaks to your character and heart. Kudos to Coach Mac for making you a part of this experience and contributing in this way off the floor. This is why there are NO programs in the MAAC that can rival our success!! As for your remarks about Eddie, I could not agree with you more. I am embarrassed when i hear people make negative remarks in the stands or on a blog about Eddie or anyone on the team. You guys bleed Siena Green and Gold and anyone who has seen you all practice and put in the work in the classroom all year and keep working when you’re sore and tired knows this full well. Wherever you go, whatever you do in life, you can say you were a part of history in the siena basketball program and no one can take that away from you. Best of luck to you all in “The Big Dance”.

Cory,
Love your blog and kudos to the entire organization. My wife and I have been season ticket holders for 20+ years and the electricity and energy at the TUC last night was unmatched. Thanks so much for your leadership, humor and attitude. The younger guys look up to you and rightfully admire your hustle and spark.
Thanks for sticking up for Eddie…sometimes these blog entries get a little tiresome with all the negativity.
Good luck with the “DANCE”. Frankly, we’re hoping for Providence or Buffalo. No tan there but….more Saints fans!!!!

Cory, great post as always. Last night was something else!! Thank you for showing us another part in the life of the Siena Saints. Also thank you for speaking up about Edwin. He is a great player and you are a great friend. I’ve said it before. You have a lot of CLASS and that is something people can’t buy!

Cory Magee, you are the man! You captured once again a lot of important stuff in your blog, even if you were jumping all over the place – no problem, just a little multi-tasking. Good luck to you and the whole Siena staff and players. I think the “pressure” of the target on your back all season is off – you guys made the tourney for THREE years in a row. The ESPN announcers ( I watched the game after I got home from being at the TUC) referred to Siena as the MAAC dynasty – nice to hear. So, with the pressure off, as Edwin would say, go out there and have fun and work your hardest. Enjoy the ride now!!!